If you’re a regular reader of this column, you will have read a lot of advice about increasing your vocabulary. Remember, your receptive vocabulary (= what you understand when you listen to English or read English) is far greater than your active vocabulary (= the language you use with confidence when you speak or write). There’s nothing better than listening to English and reading English as much as you can if you want to expand your vocabulary, but don’t attempt to do this if the level is too high for you. Read books which are below your present level. Additionally, there are numerous vocabulary practice books on the market which are quite suitable for self-study purposes. These can be useful in helping you to expand your vocabulary. Look up publishers English Language Teaching catalogues for suitable titles.

如果你经常阅读本栏目，你应该已经读到不少关于增加词汇量的建议了。记住，你的接受型词汇量(即你听或阅读英语时能理解的部分)比你的积极词汇量(即你在说或写时能自如运用的词汇)要大得多。如果要扩大词汇量，最好的办法是多听英语，多读英语，但不要超出自己的水平。阅读那些比你目前水平稍低的书。另外，书店有很多词汇练习册，很适合自学使用。这对增加你的词汇量会有帮助。查阅出版社的“英语语言教学”目录来寻找适当的题目。

2. Is it a good method to write down each new word in a special notebook to strengthen the memory while learning English?

把所遇到的新单词记在一个特备的笔记本里，以此来增强记忆，这是不是一个好办法?

If it helps you, do it! We all have our own individual ways of learning. A lot of learners like to ‘see’ as well as ‘hear’ new words, so it helps to write them down in a notebook.

如果这个方法对你有帮助的话，你就做下去好了!我们每人都有自己的学习方式。有很多学习者喜欢既“看”且“听”新单词，如果把它们记在笔记本里，会有帮助的。

3. I met many new words while I was reading. Which ones should I look up in the dictionary and remember?

在阅读时，我经常碰到很多新单词。哪些词我应该查词典并牢记它们呢?

Look up and remember only those words which prevent you from understanding the essential meaning of what you are reading. Try to guess from the context the meaning of other less essential words. It is impossible to remember the meaning of every single word you encounter and if you try to do this you will rapidly become discouraged. So be selective. 

你可以只查阅那些对理解文章基本大意有所妨碍的词汇，并把它们记住。那些非至关重要的词，你可以根据上下文的意思进行猜测。想记住你在阅读过程中遇见的每一个单词的意思是不可能的。如果你要这样做的话，你将会很快泄气的。所以你一定要有所选择。

4. As dictionaries are important in my English studies, how can I use them more effectively?

词典在我的英语学习中很重要，那么我怎样才能更有效地加以利用?

People tend to think that dictionaries just explain meanings and are rarely aware of the ‘range of services’ they provide. It’s desirable to own more than one good monolingual dictionary if at all possible, since together, different dictionaries give you a more rounded picture. However, the most important thing to do with a dictionary is really to use it, above all when you are reading. Use it till you truly know your way round it and enjoy what it offers you. Modern monolingual dictionaries provide some or all of the following services:

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